As the children of Selene, dark elves do not honor their dead by day but at night under the gaze of the moon. For years, they have burned their dead so their souls may be released into the night sky and their ashes scattered upon the earth. Following their ancient ancestors' warnings, never bury their brethren beneath it. In a peaceful city like Rahnoff, full of long-lived dark elves, this rite is not often performed. The last time she attended the rite of departure, she'd been very young. Back then, her father led the ceremony. Now, years later, she wears the dark blue ceremonial gown, covered in enchanted runes embroidered with silver thread, resplendent as the night sky.
"Are you ready, my lady?" Miranda, her head maid, offers her a dark veil.
She reaches for it, grateful to have her vision back now that the 'soul fusion's skill duration has ended. Her hands tremble as she puts on the black veil and gold wreath crown. She never expected to fulfill this role so soon. This is an important rite to honor the fallen; it is not a duty to be taken lightly. If it were up to David, he would never have placed such a heavy role on her head, but as an egg, he can't shield her from her responsibilities anymore.
"I'm here with you. I know you can do it."
She looks at Rei through the dark veil, her amethyst eyes welling up with tears as she takes his firm hand. He leads her past the castle gates, down the public streets lined with the mourning citizens of Rahnoff on either side, towards the city square where the bodies of the fallen soldiers are gathered and placed on pyre beds covered in flowers. What's left of their remains is neatly cleaned and dressed in fine armor, their weapons clasped in their stiff hands, with a white silk handkerchief over their faces.
At the center of the square, the shaman awaits her with a branch from the world tree. Its leaves are still just as green as the day it parted ways with the mature world tree in Nedall. The shaman motions for her to approach. She has no choice but to let go of Rei's hand; as an outsider married into their culture, he cannot go any further than this. He can only watch her from the side, standing next to Riell, Miranda, Neilos, Mayor Takao, and Clad, all dressed in black for the ceremony.
The tower bell rings once.
"Child of night, come. The hour is here to see off our slain brethren, that they may join our lady of night." He offers her the branch in his hand, and she kneels to receive it.
"As my father's heir, I, Ariellia Silvy Garrod, shall honor our dead with my dance to the stars. That our lady may see it and be pleased, and that she may intercede on our behalf so their souls may be welcomed by the True Creator in the afterlife." Her usual childish nature is gone, replaced by a firm voice that naturally carries across the entire square.
She discards her heels and steps forward barefoot to begin the customary dance. Her legs stretch out gracefully, light and without pause. In one fluid motion, she twists, twirls, and bends, in an almost boneless art style, just as her father did before her.
The tower bell rings twice.
"Lady of night, hear our cry and turn your gaze upon us. Be pleased by our tribute and bestow your grace upon these departed souls. Act as their guide so that they may not lose their way. Speak on their behalf that the True Creator may be willing to embrace them once more. That the fires tonight may burn bright enough to earn a place in your sky and watch over future descendants to come." The shaman's aged voice travels through the ears of everyone present like an echoing chant.
Ariellia waves the branch through the air, its leaves glowing silver, drawing in the concentrated power of the moon. She nearly stumbles; its power too potent for her small vessel to bear. As a child, she never knew how much strength it took for her father to perform the rite without faltering under pressure or breaking the trance-like state. With sweat gathering at her brows, she skillfully glides towards the first flower bed, letting the branch's glowing leaves touch its sides. As she twirls by, white flames immediately devour the bed of scarlet blooms, but she doesn't pause, moving past the scorching heat onto the next flower bed.
Her dance with the spirits must continue until all pyres within the circle are lit. Only then does she leap back to the center of the square on airy, light feet. Unable to control her heavy breathing, her chest rapidly rises and falls. She bestows the sacred branch back to the shaman. He takes it and nods his head in approval of her performance.
"You have done well, child. It appears our lady accepts your tribute and will guide our brethren to her realm of night."
She humbly bows her head, saying nothing that could tarnish this solemn moment. The night sky is filled with thick smoke, but no one leaves the area. They stand in the square and watch till the last ember dies at dawn. Clergy and followers of Selene gather the ashes with magic into small urns. They will scatter them later in the River Leara and in the Evergreen Forest. She watches their careful ministrations in silence, feeling a familiar warmth appear by her side.
"Come, the rite is over. You should get some sleep."
She gasps, not expecting Rei to lift her into his arms like a scoundrel in the presence of the entire town, but she doesn't protest as Eren would. Instead, she leans into his warm, sturdy chest, her sensitive ears listening to his steady heartbeat. "Yes, you are right. Let's go home."
"My lady, you did well today. Your father would be very proud." Mayor Takao and his son Neilos intercept them before they leave. The latter fidgets about with his hands, unwilling to see the harmonious picture painted right in front of him. If he doesn't acknowledge it, there's still a chance, but if he does see it, then all his hopes will be crushed.
"My son has told me of my old friend's condition. I swear to keep this matter a secret until my dying day. Please let him know that I will faithfully await his return in his new form." The old dark elf bows his head and drags his reluctant son away by the ear, but not before the boy shamelessly proclaims his undying love yet again to a married woman.
"I still love you, Arie!"
The familiar sight of her childhood friend whining and complaining to his father makes her giggle in Rei's arms. The pleasant sound clears the solemn mood like a warm breeze. Her stoic husband says nothing, but bounces her in his arms, effectively cutting off that train of thought by startling her.
"Hey!"
"I just needed to adjust my hands a bit," Was his excuse, but who would believe it? His sour face practically stinks of vinegar, clearly not wanting her to think of another man in his presence.